Epicene

Pronunciation

• US IPA: /ˈɛ.pɪˌsin/

Alternative forms

• epicÅ“ne archaic

Origin

From Middle English, from Latin epicoenus, from Ancient Greek ἐπίκοινος ("common").

Full definition of epicene

Adjective

1. lacking gender distinction, often specifically due to lack of either the masculine or the feminine
2. effeminate (male with unusually strong female characteristics)
3. (biology) androgynous, hermaphrodite (having both male and female characteristics)
4. (biology) asexual (having neither male nor female characteristics)
5. (linguistics) having only one form of the word, which serves as both masculine and feminine, even for either male or female referents

Synonyms

• (lacking gender distinction) unisex
• (effeminate) camp, effeminate, unmanly
• (biology: androgynous) androgynous, hermaphrodite
• (biology: asexual) asexual

Derived terms

• epicenism

Noun

1. A hermaphrodite person or other creature
2. An effeminate person
3. An epicene word, without separate grammatical gender forms.
4. An epicene object